BRIAN GREEN
32 SOMERVELL DRIVE
FAREHAM
HAMPSHIRE PO16 7QL
TEL: 01329 310 370
brian.green-@ntlworld.com
For the attention of the Members
of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill Bill Committee:
Chairmen: Sir Nicholas Winterton, Mr Edward O'Hara
Clerk: Mr Sandal - Clerk to the Criminal Justice and
Immigration Bill Bill Committee
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA
Members: Mr David Burrowes, (Enfield,
Southgate)
Mr Vernon Coaker, (Gedling)
Harry
Cohen, (Leyton and Wanstead)
Maria Eagle, (Liverpool,
Garston)
Mr Edward Garnier, (Harborough)
Mr David Hanson, (Delyn)
Mr David Heath, (Somerton
and Frome)
Mr Philip Hollobone, (Kettering)
David
Howarth, (Cambridge)
Mr Nick Hurd, (Ruislip-Northwood)
Ms Sally Keeble, (Northampton North)
Mr Sadiq Khan, (Tooting)
Alun Michael, (Cardiff South
and Penarth)
Mr Virendra Sharma, (Ealing
Southall)
Mr Charles Walker, (Broxbourne)
Lynda
Waltho, (Stourbridge)
Phil
Wilson, (Sedgefield)
HOUSE OF COMMONS,
LONDON SW1A 0AA
Tuesday, 16th October 2007
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to inform you of
my deep concern about the ‘proposed amendment’ to the Criminal Justice and
Immigration Bill, which would make it a criminal offence to 'incite hatred on
the grounds of sexuality'.
The proposed amendment and
subject to which I refer is referenced below in 8th October 2007 - Orders of
the Day - Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill;
8 Oct 2007 : Column 59 -
Orders of the Day - Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill;
Link:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm071008/debtext/71008-0010.htm
Chris Bryant (Rhondda) (Lab):
“......... Is it not now time that we had an offence of incitement to hatred on
grounds of sexual orientation? .........”
and
8 Oct 2007 : Column 67 -
Orders of the Day - Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill;
Link:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm071008/debtext/71008-0011.htm
Mr Straw: “......... In
Committee, we will table an amendment to extend the offence of incitement to
racial hatred to cover hatred against persons on the basis of their sexuality.
........ ”
I believe that the
introduction of the ‘proposed amendment’ to the Criminal Justice and
Immigration Bill, would cause considerable damage to freedom of speech. Also, I believe it would be contrary to our
freedom of expression and religion which are protected by Articles 9 and 10 of
the European Convention on Human Rights, if legislation was passed that took
away Christians' liberty to live their lives as they are convicted to do.
'Freedom' given to one group which impinges upon that of another, can hardly be
equitable. Likewise, if the anti-discrimination of one group leads to the
discrimination of another – where is the good in that?
At this time I would like to
draw the Committee’s attention to the High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland
Queen's Bench Division Decisions regarding The Christian Institute & Ors,
Re Application for Judicial Review.
URL: http://www.bailii.org/nie/cases/NIHC/QB/2007/66.html
Cite as: [2007] NIQB 66 (11 September 2007), as I believe some of the decisions
sited in this Judicial Review relate to the Criminal Justice and Immigration
Bill and will prove to be very useful to the Committee. - harassment
generally - Paragraphs [35] to [43]., (2) The European
Convention – Paragraphs [44] to [50]. The
Government had argued that the manifestation of religious belief could never
have been affected by the regulations. The judge disagreed. He ruled that
Christians can make use of Article 9 rights to religious liberty when defending
themselves against actions brought under the regulations. He said the belief
that the practice of homosexuality is sinful is a belief worthy of recognition.
Moreover this belief is a long established part of orthodox Christian belief
and of the world’s major religions
Allow me to explain to you
why I believe it is ill advised for the Government to introduce an amendment to
extend the offence of incitement to racial hatred to cover hatred against
persons on the basis of their sexuality.
Apart from my deep concerns
regarding considerable danger to freedom of speech and freedom of religion in
our nation, as a Christian I also have some equally grave concerns that need
voicing.
I will address all of the
common points first. Then, I will address those other more serious concerns
from a Christian perspective.
a.) There
is already a law that protects all people from assault and threatening words or
behaviour, the current criminal law. Also, the law concerning incitement to
commit a criminal offence would make it an offence for any person to incite an
act of violence against another person, for whatever reason. We do not need another law. We don’t want any special cases. We want the
same law to protect us all.
b.) I desire, above all to Honour God and
show my love for Him by following God's teaching as written in the Holy Bible.
I have a deep conviction that The Bible is the Holy Word of a loving God and
that the instructions found in it should be respected and obeyed.
God states in His
Word that homosexuality is wrong.
The Bible is very
clear that God intended sex to be kept in a marriage relationship between one
man and one woman.
Some people may find this teaching offensive, they may find it
threatening. But this
is the orthodox belief of the Christian Church and as such we should not be
criminalised for the
propagation of Christian Teaching. For
we read in The Bible:
Jesus Christ came to the eleven disciples and
said,"….All authority in Heaven and on
Earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make
disciples of all nations, baptising
them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit, and teaching them
to obey everything I have commanded you. And
surely I am with you always, to the very
end of the age." [Matthew, Chapter 28, verses
18-20]
I do not think that a
government should legislate about matters concerning homosexuality.
Rather, people should
be free to make up their own minds as to whether practising
homosexuality is a wrong or right
lifestyle.
I (and other Christians) have no wish to persecute
homosexuals. We serve a loving God who
wishes us to love all. I firmly believe that we should love and show love to all people,
irrespective of their lifestyle, beliefs and sexual
practices.
c.) The Government is not naive, they full well know and
understand the consequences of introducing an amendment to extend
the offence of incitement to racial hatred to cover
hatred against persons on the basis of their
sexuality.
They know the 'cold
chill' of fear that they, the government have, are, and continue to spread,
through the introduction of this ‘proposed
amendment’ to the Bill into Christian Communities.
What does the Prime Minister think he
is doing?
Many
of the elderly are Christians with strong faith. They don't want to live in a
police state with a dictator, fearful of being overheard, having to continually
look over their shoulders and checking behind doors in case someone is
eavesdropping into their conversations and in fear of being arrested by the
police and taken away to the police station.
Is
the Prime Minister aware of the damage, to our society, and to the peace of our
Nation, if he and his Government proceeds with this Bill.
The
Government is effectively setting one section of Community against another
section of Community through the Government's introduction of this amendment,
which is in effect a 'Thought Law' without limits.
We
have already seen the results of this amendment in the UK, in our newspapers,
groups such as the Lawyers Christian Fellowship, Christian Institute and
Christian Voice etc., have evidence of the damaging effects of people’s civil
liberties and free speech being bludgeoned.
For
Example, In the Daily Mail newspaper
on Thursday, 7th December,
2006, it was reported,
Archbishops anger over campus ban on
Christians
“The Archbishop of Canterbury has
attacked universities for suppressing Christian unions on campapuses over their
stance on homosexuality……”
Edinburgh University
CHRISTIANS BANNED FROM TEACHING COURSE
ON SEXUAL PURITY
· Course
banned despite high rates of teenage pregnancy and abortions in the United
Kingdom
· Freedom
of speech and religion curtailed
· Case
represents ‘narrowing of freedoms’
· Undermines
the education of future citizens
Another
Example. This one really make me cry,
Pensioner was
prosecuted for preaching Biblical truth on homosexuality
At
the beginning of 2004, the case of Harry Hammond DPP came before the High
Court. This case involved a 69 year old pensioner with aspergers syndrome,
called Mr Hammond, who was arrested for holding a large sign displaying the
words, “Stop Immorality”, “Stop Homosexuality” and “Stop Lesbianism” in
Bournemouth city centre. Members of the public attacked him and knocked him to
the ground. But he was the one who was arrested by the police and brought
before the magistrates whilst his attackers were not even arrested or
cautioned.
The
magistrate found as a matter of fact that the sign was “insulting” within the
meaning of the Public Order Act and he was convicted of a public order offence.
The High Court upheld this decision.
An
attempt was made by the executors of the will of Mr Hammond to have the
decision overturned at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg but
they declined to consider it because Mr Hammond was no longer alive to bring
the appeal.
Freedom
of Religion on Trial in Sweden
The article shows how Sweden's
highest court has dealt with 'hate speech' arising from a sermon Ake Green
preached in July 2003 denouncing homosexual behaviours.
Ake Green was acquitted of hate
speech by Sweden's highest court.
This is a precedent-setting
verdict, upholding freedom of speech and religion, was issued on Tuesday 29th
November 2005 by the Swedish Supreme
Court (SSC). A link to a transcript of Ake Green's sermon can be found at http://www.akegreen.org
On June 29, 2004, Pastor Ake Green was sentenced to
one month in jail for showing “disrespect” against homosexuals in the sermon he
delivered from his pulpit in the small town of Borgholm, Sweden on July 20,
2003. The title of his sermon was “Are people born with homosexual
orientation or is it the result of influence by evil powers?” Imagine
that! A prison sentence for merely preaching the gospel about sin,
righteousness and judgment as well as about grace, redemption, forgiveness and
restoration! You can read a transcript of his sermon translated into English.
……………
The whole thing actually started in 2002 when the Swedish
Parliament enacted a new novel law that criminalized expressions of disrespect
(Swedish: “missakting”) against homosexuals. The sentence for violation
is up to 2 years in prison for such expressions. If the expression is “especially
offensive” (Swedish: “särskillt kränkande”) the sentencing is up to four
years in prison.
The wave of sodomy that has invaded Sweden over the last
few decades has been unprecedented. It was therefore of no surprise when
the Swedish Parliament granted the homolobby this particular protection against
any “disrespectful” and “offensive” message from the pulpit. Sweden is
definitely more sodomized than any other country. No other country has
allowed special legal protection for homosexuals (against disrespect and
offense) to trump the dual doctrines of Freedom of Religion and Freedom
of Speech.
Do we really want this
in Britian ?
Read the account in so that we don’t
fall into the same trap: http://www.akegreen.org/
Another
Example,
CASE OF STEPHEN GREEN
· Christian
arrested for proclaiming Biblical truth on same-sex relationships
In
the early 1990s Stephen Green was a prominent campaigner against homosexuality
through the Conservative Family Campaign, and wrote a book called “The Sexual
Dead-End” giving his opinions in detail. On 2nd September 2006, Green was arrested in Cardiff at the city’s
Mardi Gras for distributing leaflets of an allegedly homophobic nature. The
text of the leaflet quotes the Bible at length to support his belief, that
whilst same-sex love is not a sin, sexual activity between members of the same
sex is. The leaflet then asserts that
sinners can be saved through the death and resurrection of Jesus if they offer
a full repentance. On Thursday, 28th
September,2006 the case against Stephen Green was dropped by Cardiff
Magistrates Court, as there was no evidence to present against the defendant.
Mr. Green is considering a civil action against the Police.
Another
Example,
THE CASE OF THE GLASGOW FIREMAN
GLASGOW FIREMAN FACED DISCIPLINE FOR
REFUSING TO ATTEND GAY PRIDE
· Freedom of
conscience denied
· Rights of
sexual orientation trump religious rights
Glasgow fire-fighter who refused to
participate in a gay pride event faced disciplinary action.
Ten
men from Cowcaddens fire station were under investigation after they refused
orders to man an information stall during the Pride Scotia parade. The men were
told to attend the June 24 (2006) event in uniform and hand out leaflets on
fire safety.
Some
refused on grounds of conscience, while others were “embarrassed” to attend the
event in uniform. Their superior officers reported the men for disobeying
orders, said BBC News.
Another
Example,
CHRISTIAN POLICE ASSOCIATION
· Christian
Police Officers told that being a Christian will make them prejudiced in
carrying out their duties
· Futher
example of the privatisation of the Christian faith
The
Christian Police Association (CPA) were being challenged by the Gay Police
Association (GPA) and are being reported to Head of Human Resources in one of
the leading Police Divisions in the country. The Gay Police Association (GPA)
state Christian Police Association (CPA) should be free to meet but not as an
affiliated society because they require members to sign a statement of belief
which the Gay Police Association (GPA) say is discriminatory. Gay Police
Association (GPA) say Christian Police Officers are free to believe but there
should be limits on their manifestation of belief because their views will make
them prejudiced in the way they carry out their official police duties. This is
another example of the privatisation of the Christian faith.
There are more concerns about the Gay Police
Association (GPA).
See
Christian Voice HOMOSEXUALITY AND THE POLICE
http://www.christianvoice.org.uk/police.html
I enclose an ACPO Hate Crime Manual which is chilling,
as an attachment for your perusal.
d.) WE MUST PROTECT OUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH AT
ALL COST IT IS ONLY BY FREEDOM OF SPEECH THAT PEOPLE CAN REALLY BE HELPED.
Now
I am going to tell you why from a Christian perspective freedom of speech is so
important.
It
is globally acknowledged and understood in the Christian Faith that God gave
man/woman a free will.
Every
person is able to decide what they would like/want to do.
They
can choose whether or not to do what they would like/want to do.
They
can make a choice.
And
the actions/non-actions of the choices people make often have consequences, some
good, others bad.
Every
person is responsible for his/her own actions/non-actions.
As Christians, we know that we live in a fallen world
We know that we are children of God, and that the
whole world is under the control of the evil
one. [1 John, Chapter 5, verse 18]
You've heard,
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,
but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the powers of this dark world and against the
spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly
realms." [Ephesians, Chapter 6, verse 12]
The god of this age has blinded the minds
of unbelievers, so that they cannot see
the light of the
gospel of the Glory of Christ, who is the image of
God. [2 Corinthians, Chapter 4, verse 4] (The
god mentioned here is Satan.)
There is a spiritual dimension to this of which we
need to be aware.
Sin is addictive.
Everybody makes choices as I said before.
We have all done it, we have all sinned. We know when
we do things that are wrong.
Some people choose to try things out, but if they knew
the consequences beforehand, they would
have decided against it. But they don’t know the
consequences, and instead of drawing back,
they continue and get addictive. Then they are caught
and find it very difficult to turn back
This applies to all sorts of sins, they are all
addictive.
There are a myriad of ways of how one can be ‘caught
up’. It can be due to the ways and
circumstances that affected us when were raised. Many
things can contribute, peer pressure...etc.
Evil spirits, demons can keep people locked into their
addiction.
When a person sins they break God's law and choose not
to go God's way. This action leaves
themselves open to enemy attack (i.e. spiritual
attack) by demons.
An unbeliever can be demon possessed.
A ‘Born again Christian’ is very unlikely to be demon
possessed but can have 'hooks' in him/her
that cause him/her to exhibit and get caught up in
anger, lust, fear, pornography, homosexuality
........etc.
Sometimes certain families seem to be blighted with
certain addictions that go down family
lines.
A reason that this happens is found when God came down
in a cloud in front of Moses and
proclaimed His name, the Lord. God said about Himself,
"The Lord, The Lord, The compassionate and
gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love
and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands and
forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.
Yet He does not leave the guilty unpunished: He punishes the children and their children for the
sins of the fathers to the third and
fourth generation." [Exodus, Chapter
34, verses 6-7].
So as for me, when ever I see someone caught in
addiction, it is very much, ‘there by the Grace
Of God go I.’ That could have been me.
You will have read in the Old Testament and in the New
Testament of The Holy Bible about
people being demon possessed. This is still true even
today. There are many people walking
about who are demon possessed. It is scary really -
like little time bombs walking around.
The good news is that they can be healed and released
through Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ is unique, He is God the Son.
No one else could do all the things that Jesus Christ
did. The only true religions are the Christian
Faith and the Jewish Religion.
Jesus Christ came to the eleven disciples and said,
"….All authority in Heaven and on Earth has been
given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples
of all nations, baptising them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and
teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
And surely I am with you always, to
the very end of the age." [Matthew, Chapter 28,
verses 18-20]
I believe this to be true as I have prayed in the name
of Jesus Christ and God has healed people
miraculously. I believe all that was written in the
Bible is true. And just as followers of Jesus
Christ prayed, spoke in tongues, healed people as
described in the New Testament 2000 years
ago, this is also happening today, here, now.
God said, My people perish through lack of knowledge.
The question spoken in Genesis, Chapter 4, verse 9,
“Am I my brother’s keeper?” has kept with
me for many years. I believe that the answer is, Yes,
I am my brother’s keeper. And yes I fail
many times not doing the things I should for my fellow
man/woman.
I know that since the “Alpha Course” has been running
homosexual people have been healed of
their
homosexuality. I have a friend who when was young ‘had feelings’, He said it
was difficult and it could have gone either way, he was a young Christian, and
he made the choice not to go down the homosexuality route. He is still happily
married with 2 grown up daughters.
The big lie is once a homosexual –
always a homosexual – It is just not true – People have a choice – Jesus Christ
can release them even today.
It is the children and young teens that
I am concerned. That they don’t get trapped.
What kind of message is the Government
sending out !!!
It certainly is not a Christian
Voice. The BBC should be censored it is
anti-Christian.
There
are many sites like this one on the Web
Link:
http://wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=56481
Christian
Voice has some links to do with sexual healing,
Link Here are: http://www.christianvoice.org.uk/police.html
'Gay'-rights leader quits homosexuality
Rising star in
movement says God liberated him from lifestyle
Posted:
July 3, 2007
1:00 a.m. Eastern
By Art Moore
© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com
|
|
He was a rising star in the
"gay rights" movement, but Michael Glatze now declares not only has
he given up activism – he's no longer a homosexual.
Glatze – who had become a frequent
media source as founding editor of Young Gay America magazine – tells the story
of his transformation in an exclusive column published today
by WND.
Although Glatze cut himself off
from the homosexual community about a year and a half ago, he says the column
likely will surprise some people.
"This will actually be news to
anybody I used to relate to," he told WND.
The radical change in his life,
Glatze recalls, began with inner "promptings" he now attributes to
God.
"I hope I can share my
story," he said. "I feel strongly God has put me here for a reason.
Even in the darkest days of late-night parties, substance abuse and all kinds
of things – when I felt like, 'Why am I here, what am I doing?' – there was always
a voice there.
"I didn't know what to call
it, or if I could trust it, but it said 'hold on.'"
(Story continues below)
I
believe that I have written enough, I hope what I have written is useful to
you.
Thank
you for spending time reading my letter.
And
please remember that freedom of speech is very special,
What
did Voltaire say?
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your
right to say it."
Best regards,
Brian Green